§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport(a) how many roadside spot checks are planned to be undertaken in Scotland by Vehicle Inspectorate officers during 1996–97; [38209]
(2) how many (a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicles were (i) examined at roadside spot checks and (ii) issued with immediate prohibition notices by Vehicle Inspectorate enforcement officers broken down by traffic area office in each of the last five years; [38150]
(3) how many heavy goods vehicles were weighed by the Vehicle Inspectorate for each of the last five years; [38210]
(4) if he will list the 10 most common mechanical defects found on (a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicles at roadside spot checks; [38211]
(5) what actions are available to enforcement officers when an unlicensed heavy goods vehicle is discovered at a roadside check. [38145]
§ Mr. BowisI have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 24 July 1996:
- The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on:
- 1 The 10 most common mechanical defects found at roadside spot checks;
- 2 The number of HGVs weighed for the last 5 years';
- 3 Action available to enforcement officers if an unlicensed HGV is discovered at a roadside check;
- 4 The number of HGVs and PSVs issued with immediate prohibitions at roadside checks by traffic area for the last 5 years; and
- 5 The number of roadside spot checks planned for Scotland in 1996/97.
- Information on the 10 most common mechanical defects at roadside spot checks for HGVs and PSVs can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
380W
- The number of HGVs weighed by VI for each of the last 5 years was:
- 1991/92: 119,758
- 1992/93: 124,004
- 1993/94: 100,453
- 1994/95: 120,297
- 1995/96: 107,417
Details of the number of HGVs and PSVs i. examined at roadside spot checks and ii. issued with immediate prohibition notices in each of the last 5 years are shown in the attached table.If enforcement officers discover an unlicensed heavy goods vehicle at a roadside check they can report the operator for prosecution or for investigation. If the vehicle stopped has serious roadworthiness defects and the operator is unlicensed, the vehicle will be prohibited and the operator will be prosecuted for the mechanical defects and the unauthorised use of the vehicle.The number of roadside spot checks planned for Scotland is 587 (including special multi-agency checks). The numbers planned may vary, for example because of weather conditions or availability of the police. Checks in addition to these may also be arranged if police resources allow or if we are asked by the Department to carry out any particular special checks.
381W
(a) HGV (i) Spot checks (ii) Immediate prohibitions 1995–96 Scotland 10,932 977 North West 20,682 1,785 North East 18,958 1,672 Western 18,354 1,550 South Wales 5,583 357 West Midlands 13,201 1,217 East 21,119 1,235 South East 16,434 1,416 National 125,286 10,209 1994–95 Scotland 13,278 844 North West 22,565 1,703 North East 18,577 1,377 Western 19,395 1,482 South Wales 5,571 278 West Midlands 12,641 1,161 East 19,961 1,412 South East 18,047 1,446 National 130,035 9,703 1993–94 Scotland 19,141 1,330 North West 22,728 1,377 North East 15,402 1,279 Western 18,818 1,404 South Wales 9,398 473 West Midlands 15,348 878 East 19,106 1,358 South East 14,325 852 National 134,266 8,951 1992–95 Scotland 13,588 1,258 North West 24,313 1,510 North East 20,291 1,141 Western 16,472 1,275 South Wales 5,889 457 West Midlands 10,145 740 East 25,593 1,516 South East 18,090 1,271 National 134,381 9,168 1991–92 Scotland 10,684 1,020 North West 19.244 1,504 North East 17,021 1,214 Western 13,609 1,072 South Wales and West Midlands 15,205 1,281 East 28,315 1,631 South East 13,403 960 National 117,461 8,682
(b) PSV (i) Spot checks (ii) Immediate prohibitions 1995–96 Scotland 4,377 288 North West 5,656 455 North East 6,145 285 Western 3,816 197 South Wales 1,837 59 West Midlands 3,003 103 East 4,777 169 South East 4,516 174 National 34,127 1,730 1994–95 Scotland 4,020 203 North West 6,261 432 North East 6,006 240 Western 2,933 155 South Wales 1,821 68 West Midlands 2,441 96 East 3,768 174 South East 5,576 277 National 32,826 1,645 1993–94 Scotland 4,292 234 North West 5,191 316 North East 4,604 277 Western 2,947 89 South Wales 2,035 81 West Midlands 3,491 86 East 3,060 150 South East 4,066 164 National 29,686 1,397 1992–93 Scotland 4,059 264 North West 4,813 245 North East 4,237 138 Western 2,883 139 South Wales 1,853 110 West Midlands 2,471 68 East 2,995 124 South East 6,231 211 National 29,542 1,299 1991–92 Scotland 3,105 304 North West 2,650 257 North East 3,594 163 Western 2,081 144 South Wales and West Midlands 3,989 182 East 2,698 178 South East 2,989 245 National 21,106 1,473